Keeping your electrical system in good condition is a crucial part of lowering the risk of electric shocks, fires and other electrical hazards. Have professional electricians handle major electrical problems and installations, such as putting in new wiring or repairing faulty wires. Doing some regular maintenance on your own can help reduce the risk of electrical problems in your home. Use the following electrical maintenance checklist to help you keep your home safe:
Check for frayed wires and cords
Frayed wires and cords are a common cause of house fires and electric shocks. Check around your home for frayed wires or cords or those showing other signs of wear and tear. Get rid of these and replace them with new ones in good shape, which ensures you're able to use these wires and cords safely.
Test your lights & outlets
Go around your home regularly and test all your lights and outlets. Make sure all lights and outlets are working properly. If you come across outlets that aren't working, flickering lights or other signs of damage, have professional electricians inspect them and do repairs or replace them as needed. Also, have electricians come as soon as possible if you have any outlets that feel warm since it can significantly reduce the risk of fires and other electrical hazards.
Tighten or replace loose outlets
Check your home for loose outlets, since these can cause electrical hazards. If you have any loose outlets, turn power off to them before tightening them. After the power to these outlets is off, use a voltage tester to make sure there's no voltage present. When you're sure it's safe, take the outlet cover off, unscrew the outlet, add outlet shims and put the outlet and outlet cover back in place.
Schedule professional maintenance
For peace of mind, consider scheduling professional electrical maintenance. During these visits, professional electricians check your home for potential electrical problems. These problems can then be repaired before they become serious electrical issues.
Electricians can also perform maintenance as needed to keep your electrical system in good condition. Plan to have this maintenance done about once a year or more often if needed, such as if you're in an older home.
About the Author
Judy Szablak
With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.
She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.
Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”
Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com
